Resolved by the House29 May 2001, 2nd Session, Minutes No. 100, Item 25 That the Budget Estimates and related documents presenting the amounts to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund be referred to the General Purpose Standing Committees for inquiry and report. That the Committees consider the Budget Estimates in accordance with the allocation of portfolios to the Committees. For the purposes of this inquiry any Member of the House may attend a meeting of a Committee in relation to the Budget Estimates and question witnesses, participate in the deliberations of the Committee at such meeting and make a dissenting statement relating to the Budget Estimates, but may not vote or be counted for the purpose of any quorum. The Committees must hear evidence on the Budget Estimates in public. Not more than 3 Committees are to hear evidence on the Budget Estimates simultaneously. When a Committee hears evidence on the Budget Estimates, the Chair is to call on items of expenditure in the order decided on and declare the proposed expenditure open for examination. The Committees may ask for explanations from Ministers in the House, or officers of departments, statutory bodies or corporations, relating to the items of proposed expenditure. The report of a Committee on the Budget Estimates may propose the further consideration of any items. A daily Hansard record of the hearings of a Committee on the Budget Estimates is to be published as soon as practicable after each day’s proceedings. The Committees have leave to sit during the sittings or any adjournment of the House. The Committees present a final report to the House by Thursday 6 September 2001.

That the Budget Estimates and related documents presenting the amounts to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund be referred to the General Purpose Standing Committees for inquiry and report. That the Committees consider the Budget Estimates in accordance with the allocation of portfolios to the Committees. For the purposes of this inquiry any Member of the House may attend a meeting of a Committee in relation to the Budget Estimates and question witnesses, participate in the deliberations of the Committee at such meeting and make a dissenting statement relating to the Budget Estimates, but may not vote or be counted for the purpose of any quorum. The Committees must hear evidence on the Budget Estimates in public. Not more than 3 Committees are to hear evidence on the Budget Estimates simultaneously. When a Committee hears evidence on the Budget Estimates, the Chair is to call on items of expenditure in the order decided on and declare the proposed expenditure open for examination. The Committees may ask for explanations from Ministers in the House, or officers of departments, statutory bodies or corporations, relating to the items of proposed expenditure. The report of a Committee on the Budget Estimates may propose the further consideration of any items. A daily Hansard record of the hearings of a Committee on the Budget Estimates is to be published as soon as practicable after each day’s proceedings. The Committees have leave to sit during the sittings or any adjournment of the House. The Committees present a final report to the House by Thursday 6 September 2001.